Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum

24/09/2026

Wonderful to see St Cuthberts Way get this global recognition by Lonely Planet: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv62k168rp87o

The Lonely Planet Best in Travel guide contains 50 "inspirational travel destinations" and describes the route as "perhaps the closest thing modern Britain has to a Camino de Santiago".

And if you'd prefer to get off the beaten track, we do have other pilgrim routes in Scotland too: https://www.sprf.org.uk/route-summaries

Explore the rich history and spiritual significance of pilgrimage routes like St. Magnus Way, Fife Pilgrim Way, and more with our detailed route summaries.

21/09/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the John Henderson Award. The group who are developing The Columba’s Way from Iona to St. Andrews via Dunkeld.

Their dedication, enthusiasm and tenacity have been inspirational to us all.

This is the first time the John Henderson Award has been awarded to a group - only a couple of whom are pictured here receiving the award from Nick Cooke (pictured left). They include:
James Jarvis (pictured right)
John Ferguson (pictured middle)
Andrew Donaldson
Kathy Stewart &
Andrew Barrie.

Do you know an individual or group who have, voluntarily, advanced the development of pilgrimage and pilgrim routes in Scotland? Do nominate them for the award next time round! https://www.sprf.org.uk/the-john-henderson-award

05/08/2026

'If a pilgrim is a spiritually responsive person on a journey through life, then everyone is a potential pilgrim.' Dee Dyas

A lovely piece about the potential and power of pilgrimage in the Church Times last week.

Do share anything you'd add to the list of suggestions about how to create a pilgrim place...

The resurgence of interest in pilgrimage is something every church can nurture, says Dee Dyas

04/08/2026

Do you know of an individual or a group that has helped the development of a pilgrim route in Scotland?

We're so grateful to those who give of their precious time to help make pilgrimage possible and accessible to others.

We'd like to consider them for the John Henderson Award, but we need you to nominate them first!

👉 You can find out more and use this form to make your nomination: https://www.sprf.org.uk/john-henderson-2026

Please nominate them by 14th August! Thank you!

Now in its fifth year, this annual Award was set up by the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum (SPRF) in memory of John Henderson, a founding Trustee and Treasurer of the charity who played a leading role in encouraging our member organisations to develop pilgrimage walking routes across Scotland.  Throu...

23/06/2026

The SPRF Trustees are seeking nominations for this year's John Henderson Award, which recognises an outstanding and predominantly voluntary contribution to the establishment or development of a pilgrim route in Scotland.

The award comprises a commemorative trophy and a monetary prize of £200, presented at our AGM as part of our Pilgrimage Gathering held every autumn.

At our most recent meeting, the Trustees agreed to extend the nomination criteria to include groups and we would encourage Steering Groups to consider if there are any groups or individuals you'd like to nominate for this year's award.

You can nominate using the form below:
https://www.sprf.org.uk/john-henderson-2026

image credit: Mary Morrison

09/06/2026

🕊️ Happy Feast Day of St. Columba — 9th June 🕊️

Today we mark the feast day of Columba/ Colmcille, the 'dove of the church', who died on this day in 597 AD on the isle of Iona.

Columba has been a significant influence on pilgrims past and present. Starting across the wild south coast of Mull, St Columba's Way connects the Isle of Iona all the way to St Andrews through the heart of Scotland.

We've been really excited by developments by the Three Saints Way steering group to revive and develop this long distance St Columba's Way route and look forward to sharing these developments soon.

Can't wait to find out what they are? Join the SPRF forum as a member and we'll keep you even more up-to-date on developments on all Scotland's pilgrim routes there: https://www.sprf.org.uk/join-and-donate

23/04/2026

What a great day we had at our Spring gathering, thank you for hosting us so wonderfully, Comrie Croft.

We heard an inspiring keynote from Rev Prof Ian Bradley, reflecting on Columba.

It was fantastic to hear the passion and enthusiasm for the braided ‘Columba Way’ route mapping from Iona to St. Andrews (Three Saints Way)

To hear about an exhibition about Columba on the move around various locations.

To hear about happenings and exciting developments from the Fife Pilgrim Way Pastor

To get an update on the The Tin Tabernacle in Killin

To journey some of the virtual St Magnus Way - what a beautiful moment that was!

To hear more about the beautiful, regular pilgrimage walks happening at Dunkeld Cathedral

To hear about exciting developments on Lismore from The Cathedral Church of St. Molaug.

And about the ongoing pilgrimage journeys on Mull and Iona with Mull Another Way

And an encouragement for nominations for the John Henderson Award…

And more. Not least a delicious lunch, lots of sharing of ideas and a grand tour of the immense place that is Comrie Croft.

Want a slice of the SPRF support and enthusiasm - join today: https://www.sprf.org.uk/join-and-donate

15/04/2026

Have you watched The Road to Holy Isles?

Interested in going on pilgrimage in Scotland?

You'll find a full list of Scottish Pilgrim Routes on our website here: https://www.sprf.org.uk/pilgrim-routes-in-scotland

You can catch the Pilgrimage on BBC iPlayer, that includes a journey on the St Cuthberts Way here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002trqw/pilgrimage-the-road-to-holy-island-episode-1

Seven celebrities make a pilgrimage through the stunning landscapes of north east England to one of Britain’s most important pilgrimage sites, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

11/04/2026

We're delighted that our spring gathering is to be hosted at the brilliant Comrie Croft on Thursday 23 April* 2026

We'll be building on the momentum of the exciting discussions held in Dunkeld, last spring, but don't worry you won't miss out if you weren't at that meeting, we'll make sure to bring everyone up to speed.

We'll be sharing about the exciting revisioning work that has been done on the ‘Columba Way’ coast-to-coast pilgrimage. And updates from across the country about the development of pilgrim routes and pilgrimage across Scotland.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Find out more and book your place here: https://www.sprf.org.uk/current-events-and-news Or contact [email protected]. And do make sure to let us know you are coming before the 20th April.

*Note this is a change of date from when the spring gathering was first announced.

11/04/2026

Have you caught up with the latest BBC pilgrimage series? The Road to Holy Isle.

What are your thoughts and reflections?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002trqw

p.s. photo is not from the programme, but from another group of pilgrims making the journey across the sands to Holy Isle back in October 2025. Credit: Mull Another Way